It has taken me some time to get to this task, even after all these years, it's a tough reality for me as I prefer to think him still sitting surrounded by his computer gadgetry. updating our face book page, approving a new member and engaging in a heated discussion in the forums at the same time. The hammer of smiting wielded when necessary to keep us all in line... steadfast to the ideals Robert had set forth at the beginning.
I'd known him for some time through the website but only had the pleasure of his company for a short time many years later. In the early days of BA.com, there was just the 3 of us, Robert kept things running, he managed the links and I managed the events section. That was pretty much it back then.. not a lot of frills on the old web page, but we had a lot of fun.
We had communicated a few times back then, just website stuff, business only kinda thing, always short and to the point. I recall once he and I engaging in a discussion on the tech forum about one thing or the other finally agreeing to disagree.. I remember thinking then,"He's warming up to me."
When we went to present format and brought a few more folks on board to help moderate, it began to feel more like a family. The site had grown 10 fold and there was always something going on and he was always so involved, he once told me that a good moderator reads every post, and dilligently went along practicing what he preached. But that philosophy has it's thorns as well and he left us for a time to reflect.. so to speak but gallantly returned to take the reins full on during the great Earnshaw bugout.
He introduced many ideas to include a facebook page and new front page that really got the site back up to speed, generating new interest and breathing in new life...man those were the glory days. Rallys everywhere, international rallies, people from all over getting together to celebrate life and the love of motorcycles and motorcycling. He was our driving force, our disciplinarian, our teacher... our friend.
I first met him face to face in 2011 at the Southwest Triumph Fest, he was sitting in Dwights garage when we rolled up. I went up to him to shake his hand and tell him it was good to finally meet him.. I'd known him for probably 9 years via interweb, and stuck out my hand. He, of course handed me his CDI unit and a tube of sealer and said "Here. fix this." We both laughed and I proceeded to sit down beside him and begin spreading the sealer around the seams carefully as he watched and we discussed the procedure.
After 2500 miles cross country, my old butt was about done so I spent a good bit of my time not riding a motorcycle. I did get to ride with him one day though when some of us split off from the larger group and went exploring, he on his renta-Harley took the jabs quite well.
I had the pleasure again when he made a surprise visit to a Georgia rally one year. He and Di hit it off immediately and soon became fast friends, we didn't get to see him everyday as he was battling an illness but we did get to enjoy a few rides and nightly gatherings. I'm always busy during the rallies but did manage a few good conversations with him while he was here.
Pretty much the whole gang was hanging in the polebarn one night and while I was milling about talking to folks, he and Di were sitting together with our camera viewing the pics we had taken during the day. I'll never forget the look on his face as he grinned at me motioning for me to come closer. "You are in so much trouble.." he said with a huge grin shared by Di. He then showed me an almost perfectly framed picture of Tom Vances wife Bobby's, butt. I had apparently taken it accidentally but it looked really bad for me and he wasted no time incriminating me for it. That was just the kind of guy he was.. a fine example of the best humanity has to offer.
So glad we had that time..... those few days to share the same space, some laughs, some food and some miles.
When I was a child my mother told me something that has always stuck with me.. She said that as long as some one remembers you, you are never really dead. The truth in that statement is carried with me where ever I go and passed amongst the people I meet. There, on that plain of existence they all still exist.
I know a lot of you knew him much better than I so I encourage you write your story, share your memories, your loss... so he may live on through the telling.
